Falcons wrap up football camp

Lincoln County High School’s quarterback Eli Eason hands off to running back August Hill in scrimmage action last week against Ravenwood. Eason, a junior, fills the starting role after sitting out his sophomore year with a knee injury. Hill returns to action this fall, having rushed for 1,300 yards as a sophomore, but being sidelined in spring practice with a shoulder injury. ~ Staff photo by Paul Henry

Lincoln County High School wrapped up its football camp last week. For the second consecutive season, the team, along with coaches, have bedded down in the gymnasium keeping the players together.

The Falcons reported Sunday night, then broke camp Friday evening following a scrimmage.

‘We try to keep them together, keep them at practice and build a bond,” said Coach Don Thomas. “I enjoy camp. We practice two or three times a day. Camp is tough; it’s tough at practice but they have to learn that the only people they have to lean on are their teammates.

“On Friday night no coach can make a play for them, no parent can make a play for them, no fan can make a play for them. No matter how bad we want it for them, we can’t make a play but their teammates can help them and motivate them – that’s the ones we want them to learn to depend on this week.

“I’m very happy with the players we have. The guys work hard and have done a great job up to this point and we can only get better. I think the coaches’ poll has us picked number 2 in the district. I know that’s a poll but the coaches know what we lost and what we’ve got coming back. I feel we’ll go above and beyond that. We’ve got several players who have come into their own and I’m so happy to see it.”

On Thursday morning, the Falcons scrimmaged Ravenwood and the varsity went down 3 touchdowns to 1. The Raptors, a 6A team from Williamson County, finished at 10-2 in 2013 and went undefeated at 6-0 in District 11-AAA. During last year’s camp, the two teams met in a high-spirited match-up and that immediately carried over into this year with both teams meeting at midfield. But, the coaches got their players under control and managed to play some football.

Each series started at the 30-yard line. The Raptors scored in their opening possession on a long pass play in the right side of the end zone.

The Falcons marched down the field in their first possession but coughed up the ball at the Ravenwood 15-yard line.

Ravenwood then turned over the ball their next two possessions, once on the ground and another on a pick by Austin Bennett.

The Raptors would add two more scores with the varsity on the field.

The touchdown for the Falcons came in their final possession. After starting at their own 30-yard line, LCHS moved down the field. Eli Eason connected with Shelton Smith from 25 yards out for the score.

On Friday, the Falcons had their final scrimmage of the week with Riverdale. The Warriors, a member of District 7-AAA, finished third in 2013 with an overall record of 4-6 and are picked to finish third again in the 2014 coaches’ poll. Results from that match-up were not yet available.

This week LCHS meets Moore County in a scrimmage on Friday, Aug. 8, but location and time has not yet been determined.